My Android Phone Blinks On Off When Calling

Proximity Sensor

Android phones, like the iPhone, include a piece of hardware known as the proximity sensor. This device senses when the phone is close to an object by emitting a beam or pulse of light to detect the distance between the phone and other objects. Ideally, it senses when you are holding the phone to your ear and turns off the display. Because you are talking on the phone, you do not need to see your phone as opposed to talking via speakerphone while completing other tasks on your phone. The proximity sensor is generally located next to the speaker, near the top of the phone.

Benefits

The proximity reduces usage of your phone's battery when it turns off the display because large displays use a lot of power. Furthermore, the sensor prevents accidental screen touching from your face or ear. Because touch-screen phones are sensitive to touches from other body parts, you may accidentally press a number on the dialer or even hang up on the person with whom you are speaking when holding your phone, especially if you cradle it between your shoulder and ear.

Blinking Display

In many cases, if your Android phone blinks on and off during a call, this is simply due to a partially obscured proximity sensor. You may tend to hold your phone in a manner that sometimes covers the sensor. If you are holding your phone correctly, the sensor may not perform as well if there is a lot of ambient light surrounding you. This light can cause the beam to reflect from your ear or possibly ear jewelry back toward your phone and the sensor will malfunction. Lastly, a dirty screen around the sensor may cause issues but is easily remedied by cleaning the screen.

Solutions

Holding your phone by the sides, rather than the top and bottom, can eliminate this issue of blinking if your fingers or hands are accidentally interrupting the sensor. If your sensor is simply misbehaving, try holding or swiping your finger over the sensor to help it re-adjust. If the blinking is caused by ambient light, you can turn off lights, close blinds or turn away from the source of the light if you cannot turn down the lights. This reduces reflection and can help the light from the proximity sensor to more accurately determine the location of your head while you are taking a phone call on your Android phone. However, if your phone continues to blink during calls, you should consult your provider or manufacturer to determine if there is a defect with the sensor.